Railway-signal.



C. W. DUNHAM. RAILWAY SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED )UNE 6.1918.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.. 2 SHEETS-SHEET! WITNESSES:

INVENTOR.

BY cu z-W mlwmw H i ATTORNEY.

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01 W! RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 9'8.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

BY Q'Z-f N ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. DUNHAM, F EDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION'SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- 'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Continuation of application Serial No. 115,182, filed August 16, 1916. This application filed June 6, 1918.

Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, CHARLES WV; DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State 'of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve- I ments in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

, Myinvention relates to mechanisms for the operation of railway signals, and more particularly to mechanisms of the type wherein the signal is operated by an electric motor.

' "The present application is a continuation ofmy co-pending application filed August 16, 1916, Serial No. 115182, for mechanism for the operation of railway signals, in so .far as the subject-matter common to the two is concerned.

Iwill' describe two forms of signal operating mechanisms embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims. 7

p In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 2 is a view showing one form of signal operating mechanism embodying j my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing another form of signal operating mechanism also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts inboth of the views. r

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference 1 character S designates a signal of semaphore which is controlled by an operating mechanism A. This mechanism comprises an operating arm 2, pivoted at 1 and connected to the semaphore S by a vertical rod 2*. When arm 2 is in the position shown in full lines, the semaphore is'horizontal, indicating stop, but when arm 2 is moved to the position indicated by the dash lines, the semaphore is moved to the vertical po- '1 sition, indicated by dash lines, in which position it indicates proceed. For moving the arm 2 there is provided-a chain 4 operating over sprocket wheels 40 and 41. Wheel 40 is operatively connected, through gearing 5, with an electric motor M, so that when this motor is energized it drives the chain in thedirection indicated by the arrow 8. The chain 4 is provided with rollers 6 which project laterally from the chain to I engage a fork 7 pivoted at 7 n in arm 2. Two

sets of rollers 6 are provided, and are so spaced that when one set is directly above the shaft of wheel 41 the other set is directly below the shaft of wheel 40. Fork 7 is controlled by a magnet K through a toggle mechanism in the arm 2, the control being such that the fork 7 is held rigid 1n the position shown with respect to arm 2 when magnet K is energized, but is free to swing upwardly from the position in which it is shown when the magnet is deenergized. Consequently. when magnet K is energized and motor M drives chain 4, one pair of rollers 6 will engage fork 7, and so lift arm 2 to the uppermost position, in which position the fork is caught and held by a latch 10 which is pivoted at 10 to the framework and is'biased to the position shown by a spring 10". The rollers 6 then pass from under the fork and the motor M is deenergized as I shall describe hereinafter. The semaphore S now indicates proceed; it continues to give this indication until magnet K becomes deenergized, whereupon the fork 7 slips from latch 10 so that arm 2 and semaphore S drop by gravity to their lower positions, and the signal again indicates stop. The downward movement of the parts is cushioned by a buflingdevice 12.

For controlling the circuit of motor M I provide two contacts C and C. The former of these comprises a finger 14 which normally engages a finger 14, but which may be moved out of contact with the latter finger by a block 2 of insulating material fastened to arm 2; contact C is opened by this block just before arm 2 reaches the position'indicated by the dash lines. Contact C comprises a fixed contact finger 16 and a movable finger 17 carrying a block 18 of insulating material. Contact C is normally open, 'but block 18 is so located that just before arm 2 reaches its highest position the lower rollers engage this block to move finger 17 into engagement with finger 16 and so close contact C. Then after the arm has been deposited on latch 10 and the upper set of rollers has passed away from fork 7, the lower rollers pass away from block 18 and so allow contact C to open, Contact C remains open when arm 2 returns to its lower position,

although contact .C of course closes upon such return movement of the arm. Contacts C and C are connected in .multiple in the circuit for motor M as will appear hereinafter.

The circuit of motor M is further controlled by a contact 21 which may be gov erned in any desired manner. As here shown, this contact is part of a relay R, which is controlled by a circuit comprising a battery Z2 and a switch 20.

The circuit for the motor M is from a battery 22, through contact 21 of relay R, wire 24, motor M, wire 25, wire 25*, contact C, wire 26 to battery 22. This circuit is provided with a branch around contact C, which branch includes contact C and is from wire 25 through contact C, wire 25 to wire 26. Magnet K is also controlled by relay 'R, the circuit being from battery 22, through contact 21 of relay R, wire 27, magnet K and wire 28 to battery 22.

The operation of the signal is as follows: W hen relay R is deenergized, the circuits for motor M and magnet K are open at contact 21, so that arm 2 occupies the position shown in full lines whereby semaphore S is in the stop position (full lines). Contact C is then closed and contact C is open, for reasons explained hereinbefore. When relay R becomes energized, it closes at contact'21 the circuits for motor M and magnet K. The motor then drives chain 4 in the direction of arrow 8 so that the lower rollers engage'fork 7, moving arm 2 to the dash line position and so moving semaphore S to the proceed position (dash lines). Contact C is opened just before the arm 2 reaches the latch 10, but before this occurs the rollers which are then near the bottom of the chain close contact C, so that the motor remains energized. The chain continues to move, therefore, until the upper rollershave passed well beyond the fork 7 whereupon the lower rollers move away from block 18 and so permit contact C to open, thus .deenergizing the motor. The chain then comes to rest with the rollers in the positions shown.

- When relay R subsequently opens, magnet K becomes deenergized, sothat arm 2 then drops to its lowest position and the parts are again in the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 1, ready for another operation when relay R again becomes energized.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the mechanism here shown comprises two chains 4 and 4", chain 4 operating over sprocket wheels 40 and 41, and chain 4 operating over a sprocket wheel 42 and another sprocket wheel which is not shown in the drawing but which is mounted directly behind wheel 41 and is attached to the same shaft 43. The motor M rotates sprocket wheel 40 through gearing 5 and this wheel drives chain 4 which transmits its motion to chain 4 by means of sprocket wheel 41 and shaft 43. The fork 7 b comprises three parallel prongs (onlyone being shown), the first and second of which coact with rollers 6 on chain 4 to raise arm 2 from the position in which it is shown in full lines to an inter mediate position, wherein the fork 7 rests on a latch 30; the semaphore S is then in an inclined or caution position as shown in dash lines. The second and third prongs of fork 7 coact with the rollers 6 on chain 4 to raise the arm 2 from the intermediate position to an upper position (shown in dash lines), in which the fork rests on latch 10; semaphore S is then in the vertical position, indicating proceed.

The motor circuit is controlled by contacts I having an arm 34 which coacts with rollers 6. This lever is provided with a knob 36 which closes contact C when lever 33 is swung in clockwise direction by the action of a roller 6 on arm 34. Another contact C is controlled by lever 33 in the same manner as contact C. Contact C is controlled in the same manner as contact C in Fig. 1.

Motor M and magnet K are controlled by a polarized relay R comprising a neutral contact 21 and a polarized contact 80, which relay is provided with a circuit comprising a battery 6 and a pole-changer P. Motor M is also at times controlledby a contact 47 454 which is operated by arm 2, and magnet K is controlled by a contact 47 which is likewise operated by arm 2.

hen poleschanger P is in the intermediate position, as shown in the drawing, relay R is denerg ized so that contact 21 is open, whereby all circuits for the signal controlling mechanism are-open. Magnet K is'then deenergized, so .that arm 2 occupies its lowest position, as shown in full lines. Contact C is then closed, but contacts C and C are open.

I will now assume that relay R becomes energized in such direction that its polarized contact 80 is open. Magnet K then becomesenergized, the circuit being from battery 22, through wire 40, contact 21, wires 141 and 49, contact 5047 wire 51, magnet K, and wires 52 and 46 to battery 22. Motor M also becomes energized,the circuit being from battery 22, through wire 40, contact 21, wires 141 and 142, contact 544-7, wires 148, 44 and 44 motor -M, wires 45 and 46 to battery 22. Motor M then drives chain 4 so that the lower rollers 6 engage with fork 7 b and raise the arm 2 to its intermediate position where it is held by latch 30. Just before reaching this position, the motor circuit which I have just traced becomes opened opened at this point it is closed at C, which contact is closed by the action of roller 6 on lever 33'. ContactC is in multiple With contact.51+47, the branchbeing from wire 14:1,throughwire 57 and contact to wire 441*..The. motor, therefore, continues to drive the chain 4 until roller 6 has passed from under fork 7", whereupon the roller which is then at the bottom of the chain opposite direction, so that its contact 80 closes, motor M is again energized, the circuit being from battery22, through wire 10,

contacts 21 and 80, wires 60, 61 and 62, contact 0, wires 63, 44 and 44, motor M, wires 45 and 46 to battery 22. One of the pairs of rollers 6 on chain 4 then engages with fork ,7 to raise the arm 2 to its highest position,

at which point it is caught by latch 10.

" wire l l vgized, therefore, until the rollers 6, which away from fork Shortly after the arm 2 leaves its interme diate position contact 5 0-4=7 opens, but before this occurs, contact 534=7 has closed, so that the circuit for magnet K is then from battery 22, through wire 40, contacts 21 and 80, wires 60, 61 and 7 0, contact 53-47, wire 51, magnet K, wires 52 and 46 to battery 22. Just before arm 2 reaches its highest position contact 0 is opened by knob 2", but shortly before this occurs, a roller 6 on chain 45 engages with lever 33 to close contact C,

which contact is in multiple with contact C,

the branch circuit bein from wire 60, through wire 65, contact and wire 65 to The motor continues to be enerhave been movin arm 2, have passed well whereupon the roller 6 passes out of the path of arm 34: on lever 33, and so permits contact C to open. Motor M thenbecomes deenergized and the chains come to rest. Semaphore S is then in its vertical position, indicating proceed, and

it continues to occupy th1s position until relay R becomes deenergized or energized in the reverse direction.

It will be seen from the foregoing that motor M is not deenergized until the operating arm 2 has been deposited on the latch 30 or on the latch 10. The advantage of this construction is that, regardless of the voltage of the operating battery 22, and regardless of friction in the parts, the mechanism arm 2 will always be raised to such position that it is caught by the latches 10 or 30, even though the contact C or 5447 is opened just before such position is reached.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of signal mechanisms embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1;. In combination, a signal biased to one position, an arm operatively connected with said signal, a motor, a chain operated by said motor and having a projection adapted to engage said arm to move the signal to another position whereupon the projection passes out of the path of the arm, a latch for catching and holding said arm as the projection leaves the arm, and means controlled by said chain for denergizing said motor after the projection has passed out of the path of the arm. I

2.. In combination, a signal, an arm operatively connected therewith, a motor, a chain driven by said motor for operating said arm and said signal from one position to another, and two contacts for controlling said motor one of which is actuated by said arm and the other by said chain.

3. In combination, a signal, a motor, a chain driven by said motor for operating said signal from one position to another, a circuit for said motor comprising two contacts in multiple, means operatively connected with the signal for opening one of said contacts before the signal arrives in the latter position, and means controlled by the chain for closing the second contact before the first contact opens and for permitting the second contact to again open after the signal reaches the latter position.

4. In combination, a signal, an arm for operating said signal, a motor, a chain driven by said motor, means on said chain for operating said arm from one position to another, a circuit for said motor comprising two contacts in multlple, means for controlling one of sa1d contacts by sa1d arm, and

means for controlling the other of said contacts by said means on the chain.

5. In combination, a signal adapted to indicate stop, caution and proceed,'a pivoted arm for the control of sa1d signal, a motor, two chains driven by said motor, means on one chain for operating the arm through one part of its movement, means on the other chain for operating the arm through the other part of its movement, caution and proceed circuits for said motor, means for controlling each of said circuits by two contacts in multiple, means for controlling one contact in each circuit by said arm, and means for controlling the other contact in each circuit by the said means on one of said chains.

6. In combination, a signal, a pivoted arm operatively connected with said signal, a motor, a chain driven by said motor for swinging said arm from one position to another against the action of gravity on the arm and the signal, a latch for holding the arm in the latter position, a circuit for said motor including two contacts in multiple, and a source of current, one of said contacts being opened by said arm before the arm reaches said latch, and the other contact being closed'by the chain before the first contact opens.

7. In combination, a signal, a motor, means for moving said signal from one position to another comprising two co-acting members one operativelyconnected With the motor and the other operatively connected with the signal, and two contacts for controlling said motor one of which isactuatedby one of said members and the other by the other member.

8. I11 combinatioma signal, a motor means for moving said signal from one position to a second position comprising two co acti-ng members one operatively connected with the motor and the other with the signal, a normally closed contact opened by the member connected with the signal just before the signal reaches said second position, a normally open contact, means controlled by the member connected with the motor for closing said normally open contact before the normally closed contact opens and for permitting the normally open contact to again open after the signal reaches the second position, and a circuit for said motor including said two contacts in multiple.

mocgevo 9; In combination, a signal biased to one position, a motor for moving said signal to asecond position against the action of said bias, a normally closed contact, meansassociated with the signal" for opening said contact before the signal reachessaid position, a

normally open contact, means associated with themotor for closing said latter contact beforethe former opens and for permitting the said latter contact to again open after the signal has reached said second position, and means for controlling. said motor by said'contaots.=.

10. In combination, a signalbiased to one position, an arm operatively connected with said signal, a motor, a member operated by said motor and having a projection adapted to engage said arm to'rmove the signal to a second position whereupon the projection passes out of the path of said arm, a latch for catching and holding said arm as said projection leaves the arm, and means controlled by said member for deenergizing said.

motor after the projection has passed out of the path of thearm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' CHARLES W. DUN HAM. Witnesses:

A. HER AN WEGNER, E. P. CRUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

WashingtonJ). C. I 

